RACING AT TARANAKI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 228, 26 September 1945, Page 6

RACING AT TARANAKI

EXTRA DAYS ALLOTTED Taranaki racing clubs have been allocated three days’ more racing as a share of the 45 days recently restored by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. The Taranaki Jockey Clun and the Egmont Racing Club both receive one day, and the Opunake and Stratford Racing Clubs receive half a day each. During the last three years the Stratford and Opunake clubs have shared the second day of the New Year meeting held at Stratford, but under the new allocation the Opunake Club will have a day to itself, and the Stratford Club will have its two days at New Year.

• The Taranaki Jockev Club will hold a two-day meeting on March 9 and 11. 1946, stated the president, Mr. Gordon Fraser, in New Plymouth. March 9 will be a Saturday, and on March 11 Anniversary Day will be observed. Mr Fraser said that ever since Anniversary Day had become a statutory holiday in so many awards the club had intended 1o race on that day, but because of the war restrictions on racing that had not previously been possible. The Anniversary Day week-end would be the permanent dates for the autumn meeting.

The Egmont Racing Club would probably use its extra day in May, stated the secretary, Mr. A. K. Fyson, in Hawera. This would make the club s winter meeting a two-day gathering on successive Saturdays.

The Opunake Racing Club will hold its meeting on its own course at Plhama on Februaiy 23, said the president of the Opunake Racing Club, Mr. E. A. Poole. The last time this popular country meeting was held at Pihama was on February 15 1941. If would not. be surprising if Mr. W. McA. Duncan were to nominate Kuri for the New Zealand Cup, an event this owner has not as yet won, though he narrowly missed when Taurangf beat all but Serenata in 1940. The big two-mile event at, Riccarton will carry a stake of £5OOO, and will be run on the last Saturday in November. Kurl was equal to winning over a mile and a-quarter in hack company last season, and he opened his account this year by staging a paralysing finishing run to win the Flying Handicap at the Wanganui meeting. Kuri is bred to stay, for he is bv the champion sire Foxbridge (sire of an Auckland Cup winner in Foxwyn) from Black Cat. an Absurd mare whose dam, Mascot, won the Auckland Cup in 1918. Mascot was a sister to Ardenvhor, winner of the 1916 New Zealand Cup.

When he finished second to Hadrian in the concluding event at the Foxton meeting at Awapuni on Saturday the Wanganui-owned and trained Kilarney Boy paid a handsome dividend. Had he won it would have been the best dividend of the day. Kilarney Boy finished sixth in a division of the Durle Hack on the first day and eighth in a Trial Hack division on the second day. at the recent Wanganui meeting That these two races had proved beneficial he showed by sticking on solidly at Awapuni, where he was unlucky to strike a hack of Hadrian's undoubted class. His displays, following Michael’s win at Wanganui must be gratifying to the trainer of the pair, G. S. Rayner, a son of W. Rayner, who had charge of Mr. Currie's racing stable for so many years.

Sir Dingle, winner of the Hikutaia Hurdles at the Thames meeting at his first start over the battens also won at his first outing last season, when he scored in the Jellicoe Handicap. It was his solitary success that term, though he went to the barrier 12 times. The Sargon horse won only once in the 1943-1944 season, when he took the Mount Roskill Handicap at the Avondale meeting in April. This was at a distance of one mile and three furlongs. His only placing in the preceding term was a second to Hogarth in the Ngatea Hack Handicap at the Thames meeting. Sir Dingle enjoyed his best season in 1941-42, when he won twice and was placed six times in thirteen starts. Since being put to jumping he has been schooling proficiently at Ellerslie. It would appear that he may meet with further success in the new role.